How gaming transforms theater: the lessons of Immersive Arcane

Need for self-determination

The traditional theater setup is increasingly giving way to worlds where the visitor takes control. According to the director and artistic leader of this immersive musical, Conor Doyle, this is a logical development. "People want more self-determination, whether it's about how they present themselves online or how they experience their night out." 

He sees this need for control directly reflected in the popularity of open-world video games. In those, as a player, you choose your own path and determine much of your experience.

The company behind League of Legends, Riot Games, is collaborating with Punchdrunk and Tencent on this performance. Tencent is a Chinese media-entertainment giant, and Punchdrunk is known for their groundbreaking immersive productions. Doyle worked for years on their most famous production, Sleep No More, in New York and is now focusing on the Asian market: The show is set on the top two floors of a hotel in Shanghai. 

He transforms a space of 3000 m2 into two worlds from the series: the high-tech city Piltover and the underworld Zaun. Upon entering, each guest receives a raven mask. This way, you become part of the world and a character yourself, where multiple stories unfold simultaneously.  

Intimate 

Next, you go on an exploration in the worlds where about 20 performers roam. "You get a sort of mission, you search for information," says Conor Doyle. "You get the chance to move from room to room and travel along with the character you want to follow." 

And that can be very intense, Doyle continues: "A character might take you to a small room, lock the door, maybe take off your mask, and whisper their deepest secret in your ear." 

Working with IP

Immersive Arcane is a licensed production. The rights belong to Riot Games, but this hasn't limited the director in the creative process. "You would expect them to be very cautious about ideas to adapt their successful world," says Conor Doyle, "but they loved all the suggestions we made and encouraged everything." 

The creators expect this form to attract a new group of people to their performances, such as fans of Arcane and gamers.

The challenge with screens

Screens are increasingly used in the cultural sector. Conor Doyle is also enthusiastic about them: "It's a fantastic extra layer to play with; it can make it seem like there's an entire world hidden behind a wall." But it also brings complexity, he says: "In a world where you can move in 360 degrees, a screen also acts as a magnet. We are looking for ways to sometimes make the screen fade more into the background." 

Focus on audience experience

If you want to build an immersive world yourself, Conor Doyle shares his most important lesson: "More traditional creators are often too focused on the story they want to tell or the characters. But if you want to develop immersive experiences, it has to be radically different," he says. "Put your visitor at the center and focus on what you want them to experience." 

With scent or sound upon entry, you help your guest step into the other world. Think about how you can extend the visitor experience or give them a specific role or mission so they truly become part of the story." 

Are you curious about the episode of 'Cultuurshift' where Anic van Damme, Splinter Chabot, and producer/director Chafik Benhmidouch discuss this project? In this video, you can see the entire podcast episode.